Saturday, August 13, 2016

10. BATTLE IN SPACE

The Insecticons, a faction of Decepticon robots transforming into giant devastating insects, and the Stunticons, five Decepticon robots merging to form Menasor,[1] an even gigantic robot, attacked the northern secret base of Nootra. The assault on L4 was carried out simultaneously with the Decepticons’ invasion of Cybertron. This combined attack of Decepticons was a means of destabilizing Nootra’s forces and rendering them ineffective in stopping the invasion of Cybertron. Cybertron was home planet to both Autobots and Decepticons and an integral part of Nootra.

When Nootra Security Forces received knowledge of the invasion, J’onn J’onzz, commander of NSF, dispatched some Autobots to Cybertron. Brawn, Bluestreak, Ratchet, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Ironhide, Jazz and Wheeljack, under the leadership of Optimus Prime, left for Cybertron on board Skyfire. They took along Zach, Ryan, Noah, Alan, Trunks and Goten. Once in space, on Moon Agnam, the Autobots were compelled to face off their all-time enemies the Decepticons, who were led by Megatron. By his side were Starscream, Soundwave and Astrotrain. So the never-ending battle opposing Autobots to Decepticons was about to resume.

Megatron: “Isn’t that my old enemy Prime? You’re late as usual for in a few astro-hours, my invasion of Cybertron will be complete. You and your band will stay here until the Decepticons take over Cybertron.”

Optimus Prime: “Get this right Megatron: Cybertron will never fall into your hands. The Autobots and NSF shall vanquish you for good this time.”

Megatron: “I see you never tire of being defeated each time we meet Optimus. Your stand is with the weak and none of such ever wins. You’ll lose this one as you lost the others.”

Ironhide: “Always presumptuous mega nuts? I can see only four losers here: you and your three sorry deceptive creeps.”

Starscream: “Look who they brought with them this time, kids.”

Astrotrain: “They may be out of their minds bringing children to fight us. I thought they used to say something like ‘protect children first’.”

Starscream: “Looks like their civilization and its immoral values have started to collapse. We’ll give them a hand and foster their fall.”

Skyfire: “Shut up Starscream. I can’t believe a scientist like you could sink this low.”

Starscream: “I can’t believe it myself Skyfire. I’m the first to be impressed by my sinking. And it’s better than anything I ever imagined.”

Optimus Prime: “Megatron, that folly has gone too far. Stand down now and we might reconsider your punishment. You’ll never get through the many of us.”

Megatron: “Don’t underestimate me Prime. You think I came unprepared? You’ll swallow back your words for it’s certain I’m winning this one. You brought kids with you, but look who we have on our side.”

Thanoseid,[2] the being resulting from the fusion of Thanos and Darkseid, and Magneto,[3] master of magnetism, made their entrance as Megatron’s allies. On seeing the startling look on the faces of his opponents at the arrival of his backers, Megatron let out a loud guffaw. His three companions joined him and they howled with laughter.

Megatron: “If you could see your faces! You’re surprised, aren’t you? That’s normal since you never predicted this scenario. Now Optimus, get out of my way before my men tear you apart!”

Optimus Prime: “Megatron, I don’t know how you managed to win over Thanos, Darkseid and Magneto but the Autobots are determined to stop you. Give up right now.”

Megatron: “You haven’t seen anything yet Optimus. And stop making useless imperatives when addressing me. You won’t use those words again once you know this special friend of mine.”

The Autobots and their friends were consternated on seeing rising from behind Megatron, Galactus,[4] the cosmic being who was as big as no other in the galaxy. Galactus was an enormous colossal living form of cosmic energy. An armour, serving to contain his energy, shielded him. Also known as the planet devourer, Galactus’ habit was to consume entire planets by emptying them of their energy.

Ratchet: “We must admit it Prime; Megatron is good. How did he convince Galactus to join him?”

Megatron: “Look at their sorry heads Astrotrain. It’s too much for them.”

Starscream: “I think they’re too foolish and that’s what pleases me about them. I’m going to see Galactus crush them one by one and I’ll finally humiliate them by placing my foot on their necks.”

Meanwhile, the Autobots were confused because of the intervention of these four super villains. They were forced to review their strategy.

Optimus Prime: “This doesn’t look pretty Autobots. We’re here in a bad situation. J’onn saw this coming but I took it lightly. We won’t pass through them if we don’t call for backup. Wheeljack, put me through to Central.”

Wheeljack: “You can go on Optimus.”

Optimus Prime: “J’onn, do you read me? We need reinforcement right away. Megatron has our dreaded enemies with him. Send us some of your best cards.”

J’onn J’onzz (through receiver): “Negative. Everyone has been dispatched to the field. Decepticons sent their troops to a number of our bases. You sure have something in mind.”

Optimus Prime: “Call Professor Xavier[5] of L1 South and tell him to teleport his team immediately.”

J’onn J’onzz (through receiver): “Hang on Prime; you’ll have them in a moment. J’onn out!”

Optimus Prime: “Friends, help is on the way. Let’s do everything so that Cybertron doesn’t fall in the hands of Megatron again.”

In the enemy camp, there was visible impatience to engage the battle. The super villains were waiting for Megatron’s orders to start the hostilities.

Magneto: “These metallic men will be trapped under the control of my magnetism. That will be a piece of cake for me.”

Megatron: “They’re no fools Magnus. They have activated the anti-magnetic wave, which makes them invulnerable to your magnetism. Try something else.”

Thanoseid: “I’m not here to play. I want one third of Cybertron under my command. Its technologies will give me dominion over the multiverse. I’m going after the machines right now.”

Megatron: “Take down any of them but leave Optimus Prime to me. He and I have unfinished business.”

Astrotrain: “What about Galactus? He’s standing there doing nothing. Why did you hire him in the first place Megatron?”

Megatron: “To impress the Autobots. And it’s better to have Galactus on our side now than to risk Cybertron being devoured by him once it falls to us. A true leader must use diplomacy and not be foolish as to minimize important threats, which may bring about his downfall. This is something others don’t possess.”

Starscream: “Was that remark directed at me? I told you Megatron; you’ll fall one day and I’ll be there to replace you. Then the whole world will see Starscream as the true leader of the Decepticons.”

Megatron: “In your dreams Starscream.”

Thanoseid: “Why don’t you robots stop talking and start fighting?”

Soundwave: “Megatron, more heroes have come to help the Autobots. There are five of them.”

The reinforcement was teleported from L1 South Nootra and they appeared on Agnam. The squad comprised Cyclops, Jean Grey, Archangel, Storm and Wolverine of the X-Men.[6] They landed in space and some had anti-gravitational devices fixed around their members. At their arrival, the mutants were completely overwhelmed by the situation.

Cyclops: “Wait up Wolverine; we’re a team. We must be orderly if we’re to be effective. Optimus, the X-Men know Magneto and we have a chance against him. We’re taking him. Skyfire, Ironhide, Brawn, Jazz, Wheeljack, you engage Galactus.”

Optimus Prime: “Ratchet, Bluestreak and Bumblebee, your opponents are the Decepticons. I’ll personally take charge of Megatron. Now, who’s left for Thanoseid?”

Wolverine: “If you bobs are afraid of him, I’ll handle him my own way; if nobody finds any inconvenience with that.”

Wolverine said this to Cyclops’ face, directing it to him personally.

Storm: “We’ll fight him together Logan. What about the children?”

Optimus Prime: “Trunks, Goten, you’re the reserve team. Watch carefully. If any man or robot is in danger, come in to the rescue. Cliffjumper, I charge you not to let the enemy approach the Earthlings.”

Once the commandos were set, NSF’s agents went in full force against the villains who had come together under the direction of Megatron, the Decepticon. But Galactus remained still. Suspended in space, it appeared he didn’t want to fight. The Autobots who were charged to engage him let him be and went after the Decepticons. Yet one warrior remained unnoticed to the fighters. He watched the scene from within a wire of Galactus’ armour and when the fighting began, he moved out. He went down on one knee on his board as he floated by Galactus’ right hand.

[1] Menasor is the combined form of the Stunticons in The Transformers.

[2] Thanoseid results from the fusion of DC’s Darkseid and Marvel’s Thanos in Amalgam Comics (1996), a publishing imprint shared by DC Comics and Marvel Comics, in which the two comic book publishers merged their characters into new ones. Darkseid first appears in Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (Nov. 1970) and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby. Thanos first appears in Iron Man #55 (Feb. 1973) and was created by writer-artist Jim Starlin.

[3] Magneto (Magnus) appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comics. He first appears in X-Men #1 (Sept. 1963), and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.

[4] Galactus appears in comic books and other publications published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character debuted in Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966), the first of a three-issue story later known as ‘The Galactus Trilogy’.

[5] For Professor Xavier, see the next reference.

[6] Cyclops (Scott Summers), Jean Grey (Red), Storm (Ororo), Wolverine (Logan), and Archangel are members of the X-Men. The X-Men are a superhero team founded by Professor Xavier in the Marvel Comics Universe. They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1 (September 1963).